System and method for interactive internet video conferencing

Abstract

A system and method for Internet video conferencing is provided. The method includes, generating a facilitator user interface on a display associated with a facilitator user device comprising a plurality of participant icons corresponding to a plurality of participant user devices for a conference, forming a plurality of subgroups comprising a first subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices and a second subgroup of the plurality of participant user devices, generating a participant user interface on each screen display associated with the first subgroup and the second subgroup for controlling interaction with a respective subgroup, linking each participant user device within the first subgroup with a second video signal, linking each participant user device in the second subgroup with a second video signal and intercommunicating between the first subgroup at the participant user devices without intercommunicating to the second subgroup.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of multi-party video conference control using a single action request comprising:
 sensing single action request for video conference state change from a user;   determining user video conference state;   determining if another party has control of the video conference; and   updating user video conference state to an updated video conference state based on previous determinations.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein if the user video conference state is listen and if another party has control of the video conference:
 triggering a raise hand state. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein if the user video conference state is listen and no party is in control of the video conference:
 triggering a talk state. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein if the user video conference state is talk:
 triggering a listen state. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein if the user video conference state is hand up;
 triggering a listen state. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein triggering a raise hand state comprises:
 increasing a hand count value by one; 
 
       adding user name to a bottom of a hands raised list; and
 updating all parties within the multi-party video conference of the updated user video conference state; 
 wherein the updated video conference state is hand raised. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein triggering a talk state comprises:
 confirming user has at least one of audio or video streaming capabilities; 
 receiving at least one of an audio or video data stream from the user; 
 transmitting the at least one audio or video data stream to the other parties in the video conference; and 
 updating all parties within the multi-party video conference of the updated user video conference state; 
 wherein the updated user video conference state is talk. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein if a user does not have at least one of audio or video streaming capabilities:
 ignoring the single action request. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein triggering a listen state comprises:
 decreasing hand count value by one; 
 removing user name from hands raised list; and 
 updating all parties within the multi-party video conference of the updated user video conference state; 
 wherein updated user video conference state is listen. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein triggering a listen state comprises:
 setting user video conference state to listen; and 
 updating all parties within the multi-party video conference of the updated user video conference state; 
 wherein updated user video conference state is listen. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising, before setting user video conference state to open:
 disconnecting an at least one audio or video data stream from the user. 
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising:
 determining if one or more parties have their hands raised; 
 selecting a new speaker from a top of a hands raised list; 
 decreasing hand count value by one; 
 removing new speaker user name from hands raised list; 
 confirming the new speaker has at least one of audio or video streaming capabilities; 
 setting new speaker video conference state to talk; 
 receiving at least one of an audio or video data stream from the new speaker; and 
 transmitting the at least one audio or video data stream to the other parties in the video conference. 
 
     
     
         35 . A method of requesting control of a multi-party video conference by a user using a single action request comprising:
 transmitting the single action request from the user to a video conference controller; and   receiving confirmation from the video conference controller of an updated user video conference state.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein if the user video conference state is listen and if another party has control of the video conference, receiving confirmation comprises:
 receiving the updated user video conference state of hand raised. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein if the user video conference state is listen and if no party is in control of the video conference, receiving confirmation comprises:
 receiving the updated user video conference state of talk. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein if the user video conference state is talk, receiving confirmation comprises:
 receiving the updated user video conference state of listen. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  wherein if the user video conference state is hand up, receiving confirmation comprises:
 receiving the updated user video conference state of listen.